273784

Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Commendations and Awards 1015.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy provides general guidelines for recognizing commendable or meritorious acts by members of the Santa Monica Police Department and individuals from the community. 1015.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Santa Monica Police Department to recognize and acknowledge exceptional individual or group achievements, performance, proficiency, heroism and service of its members and individuals from the community through commendations and awards. 1015.3 COMMENDATIONS Commendations for members of the Department or for individuals from the community may be initiated by any Departmen t member or by any person from the community. 1015.4 DOCUMENTATION 1015.4.1 DEPARTMENT MEMBER DOCUMENTATION Members of the Department should document meritorious or commendable acts. The documentation should contain: (a) Identifying information: 1. For memb ers of the Department - name, division and assignment at the date and time of the meritorious or commendable act (b) A brief account of the meritorious or commendable act with report numbers, as appropriate. (c) The signature of the member submitting the documentation. 1015.4.2 COMMUNITY MEMBER DOCUMENTATION Documentation of a meritorious or commendable act submitted by a person from the community should be accepted in any form. However, written documentation is preferred. Department members accepting t he documentation should attempt to obtain detailed information regarding the matter, including: (a) A brief account of the meritorious or commendable act with report numbers, as appropriate. (b) The signature of the person submitting the documentation. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2018/12/11, All Rights Reserved. Commendations and Awards - 1 Policy 1015 Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Commendations and Awards Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2018/12/11, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Commendations and Awards - 2 1015.4.3 PROCESSING DOCUMENTATION Documentation regarding the meritorious or commendable act of a member of the Department should be forwarded to the appropriate Division Commander for his/her review. The Division Commander should sign and forward the documentation to the Dep uty Chief of Police for his/her review. The Deputy Chief will sign the document and forward the document for consideration of review by the Police Award Review Committee and/or filing in the member's personnel file. 1015.5 CRITERIA The Police Award Review Committee will review written commendations and/or recommendations for an individual Department member to be awarded one of the listed medals using the following criteria: (a) MEDAL OF VALOR (Gold) Awarded to any Police Department employee for an act of extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty and performed while acting as a member of the Department. The action must be discharged in a manner reflecting favorably upon the police service, the individual, the Police Department, and the City. (b) MEDAL OF COURAGE (Silver) Awarded to any Police Department employee for an act of heroism above and beyond the call of duty and performed while acting as a member of the department. The act must be directly responsible for saving the life of another person or the apprehension of a dangerous criminal. (c) LIFESAVING MEDAL (Bronze) Awarded to any Police Department employee for an act, which directly results in the saving of another person's life; the act must be exemplary in nature and reflect the true spirit of police service. (d) MEDAL OF MERIT (Bronze) Awarded to any member of the Department for distinguished an d outstanding servi ce of an exemplary nature. (e) LINE OF DUTY MEDAL (Gold) Awarded to any member of the Department who, through no fault of their own, sustain serious or career debilitating injuries during the performance of job-related functions such as a violent encounter with criminal element, a rescue operation, a hazardous materials exposure, a riot, certain traffic or other related accidents. 1015.6 POLICE AWARD REVIEW COMMITTEE The Police Award Review Committee shall review written recommendations which award an individual of the Department one of five alternative medals for commendable performance: Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Commendations and Awards Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2018/12/11, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Commendations and Awards - 3 (a) Medal of Valor (b) Medal of Courage (c) Lifesaving Medal (d) Medal of Merit (e) Line of Duty Medal The Police Award Review Committee should be comprised of the following Department perso nnel: A. The Administrative Services Division Commander/ Deputy Chief, who shall serve as Chair of the Committee. B. A member of the Police Officers Association delegated by the Association Board of Directors. C. A former recipient of a Department medal to be selected by the Chair of the Committee. D. An employee of equal rank, assigned to the same division, as the potential medal recipient, to be